Guest Posted March 6, 2008 Share #1  Posted March 6, 2008 Advertisement (gone after registration) Hello all, I'm Matt, newly registered with this excellent forum and this is my first posting. I'm not one to shout and cry havoc at the slightest provocation but what has happened to me demands sharing.  I first started photography just over 12 years ago but my Nikon FM3a was seeing little use and I decided to take the plunge and 'go digital'. In early 2006 I brought a second hand Digilux 2 from a very scruffy second hand shop in London, and my passion was rekindled. What lovely glass. What lovely contrast. What a silent shutter. Manual controls...  We bonded and I asked more and more of the Leica, using it in all weathers and in extreme conditions (I'm in the emergency services and we've been in exceptional conditions - on RTA training courses in overturned vehicles / fires / helicopter missions and more) learning so much on the way:  -digital workflow and post production processing has been a steep learning curve and will continue to be. -the Leica pros and cons of poor shutter lag but silent capture, poor RAW handling but excellent JPEGs, excellent handling but poor electronic view thingy -getting up close and working in hazardous environments with trust in a robust bit of kit and being able to gain trust with fellow practitioners / responders / patients / families et al with a non intimidating camera -street candids are a new discipline to me and quite a challenge, but the Leica allowed me to get closer and get better  A journey of passion and discovery up until 5 weeks ago. The Leica went phut. Khallas. A pretty paperweight but no more. The previous week of use was unexceptional with no special incidents or rollovers or flights. It was quite simply the end of play.  I had discovered this site a little while previously and dabbled in the depth of knowledge and experience offered here, but my loss prompted me to join. In this day of inbuilt obselesence and disposable single serving lifestyle I wanted my Leica to last and survive the fickle fashions of sensor size / zoom range / wifi TV+fridge remote control and went looking for a dealer to talk to with commitment to and knowledge of their product. Thanks to the experience shared here I went to RG Lewis in central London.  They were excellent. Knowledgable, interested, ofering possible solutions, listening to my ramblings and then taking my Leica and sending it home to Germany.  Today I collected it and all I can say is I'm stunned. What an outstanding service. My Leica is nearly as new - the controls are sharp and crisp, the lens surface free from scars of use/abuse, the screen new, the whole camera cleaned and polished with only my heaviest knocks as proud reminders of adventures past, and it works. It works beautifully. Pure craftmanship.  Thank you Ward and co. at RG Lewis and thank you Leica for supporting your product. I have been watching the development of the M8 from the sidelines since its introduction and am especially interested in the concept of continual upgrades (although I believe the current upgrade offer to be overpriced). My present experience has warmed me to our choice of manufacturer and they are to be applauded for their commitment and quality of service. The M8 has become far more attractive as a potential future partner in adventure, but you can take my Digilux 2 from my cold, dead hands.  Well I feel better now. Perhaps I'll get off my box and have a rest... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Advertisement Posted March 6, 2008 Posted March 6, 2008 Hi Guest, Take a look here Digilux 2 - a journey. I'm sure you'll find what you were looking for!
spylaw4 Posted March 6, 2008 Share #2 Â Posted March 6, 2008 Hello Matt, and welcome to the forum - maybe you'll share some of your shots in the photo forums? Â There are many of us here who have similar sentiments regarding the D2 - for all its faults it is a marvellous piece of kit with a facility for producing shots that are special - maybe you've found the long thread extolling that look. Â All of us D2 users are very grateful to Leica for extending the warranty to cover the dreaded sensor failure, and for doing some refurbishment at the same time FOC, even though the lengthy separation can be a trial. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
gIzzE Posted March 6, 2008 Share #3 Â Posted March 6, 2008 Great post. Â I bottled out of buying an M8 today, just doesn't seem to be the right time to be laying down that amount of money not knowing if it will continue to be supported or whether it will be replaced soon, but I really miss having a Leica and after reading your post I may get a Digilux 2 for messing around with. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thomas Edwards Posted March 7, 2008 Share #4 Â Posted March 7, 2008 ...excellent post...my digi2 also rekindled my interest in photography (and turned on the 'light' insofar as digital photography is concerned) and pointed me down the path to an m8, once the to-be-expected teething problems have been sorted out...in the meantime, have had fun expermenting with the other leica digitals... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
wda Posted March 7, 2008 Share #5 Â Posted March 7, 2008 Welcome Matt, you are among kindred spirits who share your enthusiasm and admiration for Leica and D2. Â I have been busy lately and not so active contributing to the various threads. However I do keep an eye on any reference to the Digilux 2 and found your narrative very interesting, particularly as it is work-related in a daunting environment. Â Sure there are faults which devotees learn to work around. I can even focus manually which is sometimes necessary at close quarters in low light. The viewfinder is an apology but even that can come into its own with patience and perseverance. Â In my experience (mine was one of the first made when I bought it new) no other camera has the confidence-building reassurance or clever ergonomics of the D2. And many of us have experienced Leica's generous extended warranty. If only Leica would build a 10-mega pixel version with faster raw processing times! Â David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
JHAG Posted March 7, 2008 Share #6 Â Posted March 7, 2008 Welcome, Matt, and I share all of your musings about Leica, D2 and the rest. We would be glad, I'm sure, to see pictures yo ushiot with your D2, especially in these emergency situations you have to deal with. Looking forward to it. Johan F Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cbretteville Posted March 8, 2008 Share #7 Â Posted March 8, 2008 Advertisement (gone after registration) Matt, welcome here. I'm happy you got your D2 fixed. Your story is very similar to mine in that I rediscovered the real joy of photography when I got my D2 in March 2004. Â The D2 is also the most expensive camera I have ever bought, I've contracted a bad case of Leicanitis. It keeps costing me money. It is now three M-bodies (one sold) and too many lenses later. I still think the D2 is a fantastic package. It sees some use, but admittedly not as much as it did before I got my M8. Â Enjoy!! - Carl Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rivi1969 Posted March 8, 2008 Share #8 Â Posted March 8, 2008 Hello Matt, Â Nice to hear you got your camera back, all of us lucky enough to have one know what do you mean. I will never sell mine :-) Â Ricardo Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajthornbury Posted March 8, 2008 Share #9 Â Posted March 8, 2008 hello Matt, my D2 also went back to Germany after sensor problems. It too came back virtually refurbished and shiny like new. I wouldn't sell my D2 either, it has looks, class and performance. It is a joy to use and produces superb results. Enjoy your D2. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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